Shake first four ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe. Top with Champagne and add garnish. Honey syrup: In a small pan over medium heat, stir one part honey with one part water until combined. Let cool. Keep refrigerated and use within two weeks. —From Brian Means of the Fifth Floor, San Francisco

Too bad that foie gras in now banned in California (as of July 2012).

Red Baron

My family’s traditional Christmas season drink. Traditionally served at home with smoked oysters (preferably from Portlock Seafood)

1 part Cranberry Juice3 parts Champagne (or other bubbles)

This drink also known as a Poinsettia if you add Triple Sec and reduce the percentage of Cranberry Juice

Champagne Julien Chopin, Carte d’ Or – Holiday Special Price — $40Blanc de BlancChardonnay
Julien Chopin 6 ha vineyard located in Epernay produces this full “Grower” Blanc de Blanc. The wine contains 30% of 6 year old reserve wine blended with the younger wine to balance freshness with complexity. The Carte d’ Or has notes of butter, honey, and grapefruit along with a bit of brulee and mineral and a long lingering finish. Toast the New Year in right.Was $50, now $40

Real Champagne a bit out of your budget? We have a variety of Cava, Prosecco, and other sparklers starting at $10. Time to stock the cellar.

New Years is about time. And time has a big influence on wine. Saturday we’ll be pouring a few things old (a couple of Bordeaux with some age) to reflect on and a few things new (bubbles just in to the shop) to look forward to. Drop by and contemplate times passage or just pass the time on Saturday afternoon.Valdo Prosecco Brut DOC $12Glera (Prosecco)For something new try this well-balanced Italian bubbly. “Fresh, with a spicy thread of ground ginger, cardamom and balsamic weaving through tropical notes of pineapple, tangerine, white peach and vanilla bean. Balanced, with a lightly frothy mousse and a floral finish.”–Wine Spectator Champagne Julien Chopin, Carte d’ Or, Blanc de Blanc– Holiday Special Price $40 Chardonnay,Julien Chopin 6 ha vineyard located in Epernay produces this full “Grower” Blanc de Blanc. The wine contains 30% of 6 year old reserve wine blended with the younger wine to balance freshness with complexity. The Carte d’ Or has notes of butter, honey, and grapefruit along with a bit of brulee and mineral and a long lingering finish. Toast the New Year in right. 2004 Chateau Villars, Fronsac $2069% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet SauvignonAn organic vineyard in Fronsac with 35 year old vines. Chateau Villars has been run by the Gaudrie family many gererations. They keep the best fruit for their wine, selling the rest to brokers. The Hatchett Guide 2008 described the 2004 as “aromas of leather and underwood in perfect harmony with the fruit. The round, smooth, ripe tannins wrapped in intense wood notes are of high quality and demand to mature.” Four years later its time has come. Limited to stock on hand.2005 Chateau Marsau, Cotes de Francs $18Another Bordeaux with some age that is drinking great right now, the Marsau is a powerful wine that is starting to show its stuff. This beautiful Merlot-dominated Cotes de Franc exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as a sweet perfume of black raspberries, cherries, and currants, good freshness, ripe tannin, and a medium-bodied, pure mid-palate as well as finish. A sleeper of the vintage, it is ideal for drinking during its first 10-12 years of life.-Robert Parker

As we move into day two of our four day marathon tasting it’s time to put those running shoes back on and trot down to Madrona Wine Merchants for today’s ALL-DAY (11-7pm) tasting.

What’s on tap that would draw me away from that warm fire?

2011 Esporao Alandra ($8)Antão Vaz, Perrum and ArintoFragrant and elegant with floral as well as lime and other citrus aromas and full dry fruit. A lovely little wine from Portugal.

2010 Duvernay Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes ($13)Grencahe, Mouvedre, SyrahA big and rich old vine Rhone that packs a lot into a very small price. “Very beautiful steady and dark dress, in the reflections garnet. Nose of black fruits, very mature cherries, with aromas of licorice, ‘zan’ and spices (cloves and nutmeg). The mouth is dense with silky tannins and a beautifull minerality.”

The holidays can get out of hand. Winter sets in and people like to hunker down together and keep warm. And then there are parties and presents and kids out of school, things just get busy. On top of that this year we have the end of the Mayan calendar which bodes, depending on who you talk to, either a big ending or a new beginning.

Things are no different at Madrona Wine. Our weekly Saturday tasting has spun out of control and spread out to four days. From Solstice to Christmas, we’ll be pouring tastes of some of our favorite wines from the past year. Obviously we can’t have them all open at once, but each day we’ll have some fun and festive stuff to try. Stop in and see what’s open, or come each day and don’t miss anything.

We’ll see you soon, and if we don’t have a happy holiday season and we’ll look forward to the new year.

Season’s Greetingsfrom Mark & JimMadrona Wine Merchants

Some of the things we’ll be opening:

2009 Ransom Pinot Noir

2009 Kestral Red Table Wine

2009 Borgo Scopeto, Borgonero

2010 le Roselle Valpolicella Ripasso

2001 Vina Santurina Rioja Gran Reserva

2009 Animale Petit Sirah

2007 Anwika, Ungaba

2011 Salvard Cheverney

Alvise Lanceieri Prosecco

2010 Duvernay Cotes du Rhone Vielles Vignes

2010 Baer, Ursa

2007 Lincourt Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay

2009 Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne

2009 Chateau Mangot Saint-Emilion

2010 Terre de Barolo Nebbiolo

The wines in RED are the ones that we have open today, Apocalypse Friday, December 21st, 2012.

There is still room left in our Sauternes tasting, today at 5:30. Come by and taste some delicious dessert wine along with tasty appetizers. It’s a lovely start to the evening and we’ll get you home by dinner.

We assembled some tasty wines for the holidays from all over. We’ll have a sparkler from Alsace, a bold Viognier from Oregon, a Super Tuscan from Maremma, a big Cab from Walla Walla and a bit of Californiafor dessert.

Lucien Albrecht Crémant Brut Blanc de Blanc $19Lucien Albrecht pioneered Crémant production in 1971 and helped gain an Appellation Contrôlêe for the wine and for Alsace. The wine is vinified by the classic Champagne Method. This Blanc de Blancs made from 100% Pinot Blanc has a fine and elegant bead, a beautiful straw color; a light, delicate palate.

2008 Quady North, Viognier Steelhead Run $20Herb Quady, the son of the California winemaking family, has moved north to Applegate Valley in Oregon and is producing some great wines from the fruit there. His single vineyard Viognier has citrus, melon and Asian pear notes, delicate, silky tannins and distinct notes of plum and white pepper.. Classic melon, stonefruit, and pineapple aromas overlay a subtle note of fresh bread.

2009 Rocca di Frassinello, Le Sughere, Maremma $2650% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Rocca di Frassinello is a partnership between Castellare di Castellina in Chianti Classico and Eric de Rothschild who has just a little experience with Bordeaux blends. The 2009 Le Sughere di Frassinello is simply dazzling . . . Expressive floral notes are woven throughout a fabric of vibrant dark fruit in this intense, supple red. Racy and expressive from start to finish, the wine impresses for its fabulous harmony and ripe, explosive finish. –93 Pts ROBERT PARKER

2009 Amavi, Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla $2676% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Franc
Amavi Cellars own blocks of grapes in Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, Les Collines, and Goff Vineyards This Cab is a blend of theses vineyards all of which are certified sustainable. The wine has full aromas of ripe mixed berries complement earthy notes of cedar and wet stones. On the palate, layers of black cherries and blackberries mingle with hints of dark chocolate, mint and spice. Gentle tannins create a supple mouthfeel, leading to a powerful yet refined finish.

Quady, Essencia $20-750ml $15– 375mlOrange Muscat
Quady has been a pioneer of California dessert wines. Orange Muscat is grown in small plantings in France, Italy and Australia. The Essencia has aromas reminiscent of Orange Blossom and Apricot, and a lingering refreshing aftertaste. The wine is lightly fortified to about 15% alcohol and aged for 3 months in French Oak.